Arcanears confirms his liking for polytrack

Arcanears (12/1) registered his fourth success on the polytrack surface in the View Restaurant At Dundalk Handicap.

The 6-year-old tracked the leaders under Mikey Sheehy (back in action after suspension) before making his bid from two furlongs out. He got to the front just outside the furlong marker and ran on gamely to hold the strong-travelling 3/1 favourite Laugh A Minute by half a length with Ramon Di Loria (4/1) the same distance further back in third.

Winning trainer Michael Halford said: “It's a lovely race to win, he won it last year as well. The handicapper will tell you he's 16lb better on the all-weather than he is on the turf and it's obviously right.

“He just loves it here and he had a beautiful draw. Mikey is great value for the 5lb and I'd say that made all the difference.

“I'm delighted for his owner Carol Roper, she's had horses with us for a long time and she's a very loyal supporter of ours.

“She gets a great kick out of them winning, she wasn't able to come today but that will give her a great boost.

“He's a great servant. There isn't a lot here for him with the way his rating has gone. I have him in at Laytown on Monday and he's in there off his turf rating so I'll have to sleep on that.”

Quotes from Gary Carson